Born in southern China, Dan arrived in the United States in 2007, having been offered a full scholarship for biomedical graduate study from the University of Pennsylvania. There, studying metabolism, she made a discovery that sheds light on why people doing shift work have a higher risk of metabolic disorders. The finding was published in the journal Science.
While this research was rewarding, Dan valued the real world experience that came from treating patients. Fluent in Mandarin and Cantonese, she volunteered at the Chinatown Medical Services in Philadelphia, a low-cost clinic serving the local Chinese community. Her clinical experiences cemented her desire to become a physician-scientist.
Going to medical school seemed unrealistic at first. She couldn't afford the tuition, and her undergraduate degree was from China--both serious impediments. Dan persevered with her dream, with faith in herself and help from others, including her extended family in New York.
Now, Dan is studying at Stanford University School of Medicine, where she is exploring different research interests. She is a member of Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association, and she continues to serve the Asian community with her bilingual skills at a free clinic in San Jose, CA.
